Improvement in holders for leather straps



'1). A. JOHNSON. Holder for Leather Straps.

No. 200,918. Patented March 5, 1878.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL A. JOHNSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN HOLDERS FOR LEATHER STRAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 200,918, dated March 5, 1878 application filed February 1, 1878.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DANIEL A. J OHNSON, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Holders for Straps, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to a strap-holder which is intended as a substitute for a buckle, to hold straps in various places about carriages, harnesses, &c., where buckles are ordinarily employed.

The invention consists in a strap-holder composed of a button or equivalent, combined with a yielding loopholding arm, to hold the usual leather slide-loop in position about the pieces of leather between which the holder is placed.

Figure 1 shows my invention applied to a shaft-strap, the strap being cut away to show the holder in operative position; Fig. 2, an edge view of the holder removed; Fig. 3, an end view; Fig. 4, a top view; Fig. 5, a side and top view; and Figs. 6 and 7 represent side views of modified forms of holders.

The strap a, which connects the shaft-loop b with the loop 0 of the axle, when provided with a buckle, as commonly practiced, is quite objectionable, for the buckle soon rattles, and becomes a source of annoyance, and when the buckle is to be opened to change the shafts it is often found set or rusted.

My holder, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, is composed of a T-shaped button, d, rising from a yielding loop-holding arm composed of a bar, 0, and two springs, f g, secured thereto by rivets 2. The two free ends 3 4 of the strap are each provided with a number of longitudinal slits of a length and width sufficient to receive the button d, such slits being made a short distance from each other to permit the strap to be taken up or lengthened, as is commonly practiced when a buckle is used. The button 01, inserted througha slit in each end of the strap, is then turned, so that the yielding arm rests parallel with the strap, and between the ends 3 4 on one side and the main part 5 of the strap on the other side.

In this position the button-head or top of the cross bar extends across the strap at right angles to the slit through which it was passed, thereby confining the straps in position mo're securely than would a buckletongue.

To keep the yielding arm parallel with the strap, I force along the strap, and about it and the arm, a leather loop, h, such loop, as it is forced over the strap and arm toward the button,compressing the springs from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 1. This arm, being made yielding, as it is contracted, exerts sufficient pressure outward to insure that the loop h always remains in position.

Instead of two springs, it is obvious that I might employ one.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 a single plate, k, is cut, as shown, to form a tongue, l, which is curved upward. Fig. 6 shows the shank composed of two curved springs, f g, the solid portion e (shown in Fig. 2) being omitted.

The holder may be used on the back-strap of a harness, for check-reins, or to hold the loop which receives the shafts, or for polestraps, &c. This holder will never rattle, and can be applied to straps without sewing.

It is obvious that the yielding arm or loopholding'springs may be extended from the button in opposite directions, to hold in place loops at each side of the button, as shown in Fig. 7.

I claim As an improved article of manufacture, a strap-holder composed of a button and a yielding arm extending therefrom, to operate in connection with a slide-loop, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL A. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

G. W. GREGORY, L. A. BAXTER. 

